HOLLYWOOD hunk Vin Diesel may be 53 this year but the American actor and producer can still kick it hard.
Known for his solid action roles, the beefy Californian, whose real name is Mark Sinclair, has been the lead in several franchises like the Riddick and XXX movies, not to mention the mega-successful and ongoing Fast & Furious string of hit releases.
But the father of three has also dabbled in the superhero genre, most notably providing the voice to the quirky wood hero Groot in the Guardians Of The Galaxy movies from marvel Studios.
Fans will now get to see Diesel tough it out both physically and emotionally in his latest film, Bloodshot, which combines the action, sci-fi and superhero genres.
Based on the bestselling comic book of the same name, Diesel is Ray Garrison, an elite soldier recently killed in action and brought back to life as the super soldier.
UNSTOPPABLE FORCE
Called Bloodshot, he is created by the RST corporation and has an army of nanotechnology coursing through his veins, making him an unstoppable force.
He is the strongest fighter the corporation has ever created and he also has the ability to heal instantly. Other abilities include superhuman strength, speed, agility, stamina, reflexes and endurance.
Oh, and he’s also a master hand-to-hand combatant and a skilled marksman.
But in upgrading his body, the company is also manipulating his mind and memories.
As he begins to remember his past life, Ray isn’t sure what’s real and what’s not — but he’s determined to take back control.
A hero not just trying to get the bad guys, but trying to figure out if he can trust what’s in his own mind? That’s heavy stuff — and that was precisely what drew Diesel to the titular role.
The Hollywood biggie had already created many other memorable roles throughout his career which began in 1990, so he was on the lookout for another opportunity to be part of something special.
VALIANT HERO
That once-in-a-lifetime chance came in the form of bringing to life the most popular character in American comic company Valiant’s lineup.
Created by Kevin VanHook, Don Perlin and Bob Layton back in 1992, it enjoys a wide readership with over 81 million comics sold.
The Valiant books also possess a diverse array of characters encompassing a wide variety of genres, tones, and demographic groups.
Famed for presenting characters who are ordinary people in extraordinary situations, these heroes are complex characters that reflect contemporary society, politics, and diversity of the modern world.
In that way, Diesel says that Bloodshot is unique because while his skills as a super-soldier are striking and fun to watch, it’s what’s going on inside that counts.
“His mind has been controlled,” says the actor. “He’s a badass soldier with unique abilities due to the nanites in his blood. What's fascinating about the character is that he’s motivated by something we’ve all been motivated by — the love he can’t forget. And what’s tragic about the character is how that love is manipulated into betrayal.”
For Diesel, a powerful character exhibiting a real Achilles’ heel feels very grounded — and the actor says that the character’s heroic side is just as grounded.
RELATABLE WITH HEART
“If you ask guys in the military who their favourite comic book character is, it’s Bloodshot,” he notes. “Ray’s core values are the core values of anyone that's ever served.”
Because of that, Diesel says, the audience feels a deep empathy for the character.
“I’ve never seen a character like this — someone who can be focused exclusively on the mission but you in the audience feel for him because you know that the company is exploiting him. His motives are good so you just want to see him get what he wants.”
And that feeling of being manipulated — the injustice of it — is something that maybe we can all relate to, Diesel says.
“I feel that anyone can identify with feeling manipulated. As we watch the news in our daily lives, there are so many moments that we’re feeling force-fed or being manipulated. I like the idea of a hero with powers whose real battle is against that.”
For Bloodshot director Dave Wilson, the character was also a chance to explore the intersection of technology with our daily lives.
“Bloodshot’s abilities come from technology,” he notes. “In that way, it’s very grounded; we are all affected by – even controlled by – the tech around us. Or, I should say, technology gives us an illusion of control over our lives. There’s a great parallel there to the way Bloodshot is manipulated.”
MIRRORING THE FUTURE
Wilson points out that everything Bloodshot experiences might not be all that far off from reality — for better or worse.
“Obviously we’re already seeing people with advanced prosthetics,” he says.
“Right now, those prosthetics are still inferior to human limbs but the day will come when they are superior. You’ll be able to buy strength. What’s more terrifying is when you can buy intelligence because we’ll be defined by what we can afford. There’s a term for it — ‘transhumanism’— where we’re able to alter ourselves beyond the physical and neurological limits we’re born with. And those are some of the questions of the film.”
Ray has been turned into a super soldier by the RST Corporation, led by Dr Harting, played by Guy Pearce.
“From his point of view, everything he does is in service of some future battle,” says Diesel.
“He’s not necessarily nefarious. He really believes he’s doing something worthwhile. I imagine anybody that sends people to war has a conscience and wonders if they’re doing the right thing. I don't think Harting is any different. But he is willing to put Ray’s stability at risk to create this effective weapon.”
Harting’s assistant – and another of his experiments, an ex-Marine with a life-threatening injury – is KT, played by Eiza Gonzalez.
SHADES OF COMPLEXITY
The actress says that the role required a complex balance.
“KT is already starting to have misgivings about what they’re doing to Ray but she’s at the mercy of Harting – he has control over the apparatus keeping her alive,” she says.
Because of that – even as she starts to develop feelings for Ray – she can’t betray her true motivations.
“It was really tricky. In every scene, I had to find an undertone within the scene that was the opposite of what was happening on the surface. I’d be playing a moment where I’m relaying pieces of information to Ray but really, I’m bothered and hurt.”
Another part of Harting’s team – and another enhanced soldier – is Jimmy Dalton, a.k.a. Chainsaw.
“He’s been given new legs and a new exoskeleton, a second set of arms that give him great power,” notes Outlander’s Sam Heughan, who plays the role.
“He’s had a lot of work done – and he’s a piece of work. He’s ex-Navy SEAL, the best of the best, and he’s got an attitude. It’s nice to play something completely different.”
Bloodshot is unique since it does not come from the two current titans of big-screen superhero movies, Marvel and DC.
But with the release of this new action extravaganza, it is hoped that a new Valiant Comics shared cinematic universe can be created with following movies featuring various other characters.
For now, fans can catch the first instalment that is Bloodshot, which opened in cinemas nationwide yesterday.
Courtesy of Sony Pictures Entertainment (Malaysia)
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